I have been approached today by somebody I know asking me if I will have their dog, she was very distressed as they can no longer keep him. I  must admit I am tempted, I already have a 15 month male entire dobe and this is 3 year old male entire dobe. what does everybody think? my husband says it wouldn't work
I need urgent advice as she needs  this sorted out this weekend, I haven't met the dog yet, but she says good with other dogs and children and that he is underweight but no health problems.
Could I just be taking on a whole of lot trouble? and if it didn't work what would I do then?

I would be very uneasy about taking a dog on with out more information.How well do you know the people and why are they having to give the dog up ?

If the dog is under weight have they given an explanation on why he is ?

Lucy
xx

I know them through work, she told me that they are in severe financial difficulties.  the dog eats well so  she says!

No no and no.  It is very rare for entire male dobes to live in harmony, and that is ones that hae been reared together to brign a full adult into a home with an adolescent will cause trouble and unhppiness for all.

Ask them to contact the breeder or failing that breed rescue.

You have said what my husband said, sadly I will give her a call and say no, I don,t want to as I am a real soft touch. I would have him in flash if I didn't have my boy. but brainless I know your right just I needed to be told

I completely agree with Brainless. I wouldn't consider bringing an adult male dob into a house with a teenage male - it just won't work. It would be best for you to wait another year then bring a puppy in if you want another dog, and better for your work colleague to contact their dogs breeder.

ok I have done the deed, I feel really bad about this,  the dog should be going to the dog resue tomorrow she said she has  already rung them just in case I couldn,t have him.

How sad. I feel awful

I hope it is the doberman rescue or the dogs breeder as they will be far better placed to home him than a general rescue, which will not find it easy to home and entire adult male dobe.

as far as I know is just a local rescue

Do you know if the breeder was contacted.  If he came from a decent breeder they would want to know.  I woudl be most upset if one of my pups were rehomed or put in rescue without my knowledge.

this poor dog is on its second home so the lady that I know does not know who the orginal breeder was

It is very sad for the original breeder, who may have happily had her pup back.  This is the problem with second and third homings, papers get lost or not passed on at all and no-one knows who or where this dog now comes from.

Another reason why all legit breeders should have our dogs tattoed to make sure we know where they are or end up.  I know some rescues will not contact breeders but at least you would be able to tell immediatley if the dog has come via a good responsible breeder or is from another source.

Which is why as sad as you feel, you really should not take on this dog, you do not know his background, what his parentage is, whether he is from dogs of good temperaments or health, it is not worth the risk as you have no idea what you are getting.

I hope that the poor dog finds a good home soon, but I would not mix him with another dog not knowing who he is.

Im sure he won't be there long, as hard as it is to say 'no' you have done the right thing for him and your dog at present. It would be worse to have him at your house for a few months, to find it isnt working and then uprooting again, well done for doing the right thing :)

I have found as my male dog gets older the relationship with other males depends on the dog, as he is very playful and if the other dog is they get along fine, but if not there can be a bit of grumbling. I imagine in the home it would be a little more intensified as well.

If they have the KC papers for him they should be able to trace the breeder? seems such a shame, can't they be talked into Dobe rescue?

I was just going to say have the people got the kc papers for the dog but calmstrorm beat me to it.
I know I would be distraught if one of my dogs ended up in rescue without my knowledge.
Its worth checking if he has been tattoed as well this could help trace the breeder.

I don't think this dog has come from a breeder, as I don,t think he has any papers or at least she doesn't seem to have any papers he is now at the resuce as I rang up to check, I didn,t tell them that I knew of the dog, he said that he is underweight but seems to be eating fine and  he told me why the dog had been given up which was the same as she had told me, he said that she said he got on with other dogs but that he is not getting on well with the rottie that he has in there
I want to  go and see him but I know that I would not be able to leave him there so I can't

Sally, you have to let your head rule your heart on this one:  if it has been given up because it doesn't get on with other dogs, then you too will have the same problem - and believe me, having a dog that doesn't get on with others in the house is a real stress-maker (we had to rehome a beloved 8 year old lab earlier this year because of this).   You have to keep dogs apart all the time - or risk enormous vets bills (I think ours totalled nearly £600 in two years, just for patching Gypsy up).

Ultimately, you would be faced with rehoming the dog again.   Better that it is placed as an only dog, where it can thrive from now.

Regards

Margot

Just as an aside, anyone whose bitch has a litter is a breeder, and if he is a purebred dobe I would imagine he was a deliberate breeding, so to be honest the so called breeder should still be morally responsible, and I wish that breeders like this could be made to take their responsibilities seriously and if they cannot or won't take back a dog they should at least be made to contribute to it's welfare :(

Maybe that would stop people casually producing litters that they had no intention for being responsible for past pocketing the puppy sale money.

Pet peeve of mine :rolleyes: